July 5 is the 8th Anniversary of Humble Baritonics

Here's an archive post from June 21, 2011, just before Bruce Emery and Lil' Rev let me know about their baritone ukulele book aspirations. Tomorrow, July 5 2017, will be HUMBLE BARITONICS 8 year anniversary of posting and sharing. This post was perhaps one of the best calls for more materials for the bari-uke player. The original post had a couple of comments that may be worth reading as well. Here's the link to the original post.

... Over the last few months I have talked to two musicians that are also authors of music books published by major music book publishers. One of them comes from the ukulele world (Lil' Rev) and the other comes from the guitar world (Bruce Emery). I own books from both authors and they both have extensive knowledge and a creative style -- they both are preparing to create books for the baritone ukulele.

I would surely like to see a book that leans more toward an intermediate player since I think that most bari-uke players have migrated up from the uke or down from the guitar and therefor are beyond the beginner mode.

The purpose of this post is for me to list what I'd like to see AND to offer YOU a place to leave comments, allowing you the opportunity to leave your suggestions too.

MY THOUGHTS to START the CONVERSATION

• I would like to see some of John King's great style of musical transribing continue. His Famous Solos and Duets for Ukulele book is a masterpiece for the GCEA world. [DGBE UPDATE - We now have some quality tablature on HB, as provided by Roger Ruthen (Bari-Pickin', Celtic Melodies, Classical), Tom Nelson's Tunes, and Andrew Morse's Tunes.]
• I would like to see some blues using a slide. Those old style blues like Del Rey plays.
• I would like to see some fingerpicking and travis picking arrangements specifically created for the bari. And I would like to see an arrangement that moves between picking and strumming to increase skill and dexterity.
• I would like to see some flatpicking tunes arranged specifically for the bari. There are some amazing Americana classics that are quite fun to play. [UPDATE Dick Sheridan has the GREAT Fiddle Tunes for the Baritone Ukulele.]
• I know the DGBE bari is a treble instrument but when playing with GCEA players it would be nice to expose the deeper register some. I would like to see some bass runs for the baritone ukulele.
• Since the frets on the bari are wider, I would like to see some exploration into chord-triads and double stops since they will allow sound variations.
• I would like to see some chord melody arrangements for the bari. Rigk Sauer (RISA ukuleles) has an amazing book called. "The Ukulele Solo Recipe" which is an exceptional read for creating chord melodies but for the bari it would be nice to see some triads and double stops when the chord spread becomes unmanagable. [UPDATE Dick Sheridan has a book called ASAP Chord Solos for the Baritone Ukulele.]
• I would like to see some scale exercises thru two octaves if possible.
• I would like to see some arrangements that make full use of the longer scale.
• To explore the world of scales, I would like to see something using a Japanese musical scale and a Middle Eastern sounding scale.
• UPDATE - I would also like to see more Flamenco or Spanish Guitar. [There are a couple of arrangements in Tom Nelson's Tunes.]
• UPDATE - Fred Sokolow's Fretboard Roadmaps is now out in Baritone Uke Ed. See Sidebar
• UPDATE - Chad Johnson's Baritone Ukulele Aerobics is also out in Bari-Uke Ed. See Sidebar
• See the B=O=O=K=S tab above for many more books! 

SOME OF MY STANDARD GCEA FAVORITE BOOKS

John King - Famous Solos & Duets for Ukulele (GCEA)
Mark Nelson - Fingerstyle Solos for 'Ukulele (GCEA)
Lil' Rev - 101 Ukulele Licks, and all of his beginner books (GCEA)
Fred Sokolow -- Blues Ukulele & Bluegrass Ukulele (GCEA)
Jim D'Ville & Bill Keith - The Natural Way to Music
Ed Roseman - Music Theory for Practical People
Flatpicking Guitar Magazine (some DGBE)
Eric Thompson - Fancy Fiddle Tunes for Flatpicking Guitar (some DGBE)
Eric Thompson - Irish Dance Tunes for Flatpicking Guitar (some DGBE)
Wayne Erbsen - Flatpicking Guitar for the Complete Ignoramus (some DGBE and many good stories)
Jack Tuttle - Bluegrass Guitar Collection (Vol.1) (some DGBE)
Dick Bruce - Parking Lot Picker's Songbook (some DGBE)
Bruce Emery - Travis-Style Guitar from Scratch (EADGBE)
Roger Ruthen - pdf Minstel website for a nice collection of bari music (DBGE)